Leeds United release Birmingham City transfer target and make Cody Drameh decision

Leeds United have announced their retained list following the club’s Championship play-off final defeat by Southampton at Wembley at the end of last month – and confirmed they have offered defender Cody Drameh a new contract.

Drameh, 22, has made just 10 first-team appearances for Leeds – and only two of those were starts in the Championship – and has spent the last two years on loan. In fact, those loans couldn’t have been more different in terms of results – Drameh helped Luton Town to promotion to the Premier League 12 months ago before being relegated with the Blues last year.

The versatile defender, who could play either side of the back four, played 30 times for the Blues last year but fell out of favor when Gary Rowett returned to the club in March and made just two appearances – the defeat to 2-1 at Queens Park Rangers and then as a late substitute in the 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff City.

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Drameh’s future at Elland Road looked uncertain, with his contract up this summer, and due to those loan spells and a lack of first-team football in recent years, it was predicted he could cut ties with the Whites, but the club decided to explore the possibility for the defender to stay after his expiring contract.

Leeds revealed their keep and release list on Friday. Luke Ayling – who signed for Middlesbrough – has been released, as has the retiring Stuart Dallas. The Whites are in talks with Liam Cooper and Jamie Shackleton about extending their stays, but the other senior player whose contract is up and who will leave the club is Ian Poveda.

Poveda was targeted by the Blues during the January transfer window, but Tony Mowbray could not offload anyone to make room in his squad to sign the winger. Sheffield Wednesday managed to sign Poveda on loan from Leeds on deadline day and he played a key role in their 2-0 win over the Blues on his full debut for the Owls.

Speaking after that game, Mowbray admitted the Blues were close to signing the Colombia international in January. He said: “Poveda is a good player, I should say. We came very close to signing Poveda in this window that just disappeared. He’s a player we had at Blackburn Rovers and he’s a very talented lad.”

Poveda is among 11 players to be released by Leeds, while Sam Byram has sparked a contract extension. Drameh is one of six players who could be retained if they agree to the offers that have been put to them.

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